ICNX
Hicham El Guerrouj

Middle/Long Distance · Morocco

@elguerroujhicham

Hicham El
Guerrouj

World Record
3World Record
World Champion
5World Champion
Olympic Medal
2Olympic Medal
1Title
Never Been Done
1Never Been Done
1Legend
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Photo: Foto: Sebastien from Montreal, Canada / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

No man had done the Olympic 1500m/5000m double since 1924. El Guerrouj did it in Athens. Eighty years later, alone in that company.

About Hicham El

Hicham El Guerrouj is a retired Moroccan middle-distance runner widely considered the greatest 1500m/mile runner in history. After a heartbreaking fall in the 1996 Olympic final, he rebuilt to win five World Championship 1500m golds (including the 1995 World Indoor title) and set world records in the 1500m, mile, and 2000m — his 1500m mark from 1998 stood unbroken for 28 years. He capped his career at the Athens 2004 Olympics, winning both the 1500m and 5000m, the first man in 80 years to complete that double. He retired in 2006.

The moments

Iconic
achievements

World Champion
1995

El Guerrouj Wins World Indoor 1500m Gold

El Guerrouj claimed 1500m gold at the World Indoor Championships in Barcelona, adding another title to his middle-distance record.

World Record
1998

El Guerrouj Sets 1500m World Record at 3:26.00

In Rome, Hicham El Guerrouj ran the 1500m in 3:26.00 to set a world record. Twenty-eight years on, the mark still stands.

World Record
1999

Hicham El Guerrouj: Sets the mile world record, 3:43.13, in Rome.

In Rome, Hicham El Guerrouj ran the mile in 3:43.13, setting a world record in the event.

World Record
1999

Hicham El Guerrouj: Sets the 2000m world record, 4:44.79, in Berlin.

In Berlin, Hicham El Guerrouj clocked 4:44.79 over 2000m to set a new world record, adding another distance to his middle-distance résumé.

Title
2003

Hicham El Guerrouj: Wins four consecutive World Championships 1500m titles (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003) — a record streak.

Wins four consecutive World Championships 1500m titles (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003) — a record streak.

Olympic Medal
2004

Hicham El Guerrouj: Wins Olympic 1500m gold in Athens, redemption after falling in the 1996 final and taking silver in 2000.

Wins Olympic 1500m gold in Athens, redemption after falling in the 1996 final and taking silver in 2000.

Never Been Done
2004

Hicham El Guerrouj: Wins Olympic 5000m gold in Athens four days after the 1500m, becoming the first man since Paavo Nurmi (1924) t

Wins Olympic 5000m gold in Athens four days after the 1500m, becoming the first man since Paavo Nurmi (1924) to complete the 1500m/5000m Olympic double.

Legend
2006

El Guerrouj Retires as Undefeated 1500m Master

Hicham El Guerrouj steps away from the track at the height of his career, leaving the 1500m with a years-long unbeaten streak intact.

The record

  1. 1995El Guerrouj Wins World Indoor 1500m GoldWorld Champion
  2. 1998El Guerrouj Sets 1500m World Record at 3:26.00World Record
  3. 1999Hicham El Guerrouj: Sets the mile world record, 3:43.13, in Rome.World Record
  4. 1999Hicham El Guerrouj: Sets the 2000m world record, 4:44.79, in Berlin.World Record
  5. 2003Hicham El Guerrouj: Wins four consecutive World Championships 1500m titles (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003) — a record streak.Title
  6. 2004Hicham El Guerrouj: Wins Olympic 1500m gold in Athens, redemption after falling in the 1996 final and taking silver in 2000.Olympic Medal
  7. 2004Hicham El Guerrouj: Wins Olympic 5000m gold in Athens four days after the 1500m, becoming the first man since Paavo Nurmi (1924) tNever Been Done
  8. 2006El Guerrouj Retires as Undefeated 1500m MasterLegend